SD House Reps split on debt ceiling

Republicans decry president’s refusal to link issue to spending cuts

San Diego County’s congressional delegation on Monday reflected the partisan divide that marks Congress in responding to President Barack Obama’s stated refusal to link increasing the debt ceiling to spending cuts.

The Republican leadership in Congress is adamant that raising the debt limit in the coming weeks to pay existing bills must be linked to reductions in federal spending.

Obama told reporters in Washington Monday that any suggestion Republicans won’t agree to the increase without a like amount of cuts is “absurd.”

“They will not collect a ransom in exchange for not crashing the American economy,” Obama said during a news conference.

The county’s two Republicans, Duncan Hunter and Darrell Issa, said the president should reconsider his stance. Hunter called Obama’s vow not to negotiate a “disservice.” Issa said the upcoming fight is the fault of the president and Senate.

“The idea that the president won’t even engage in discussions about how we can cut spending is a real disservice to every taxpayer and family,” said Hunter, R-Alpine. “Since the president came into office, the debt limit was increased to finance existing obligations and new spending that he called for and even proposed.”

Hunter said “a line needs to be drawn,” and he called for a halt to any new, non-emergency spending

In preparation for the upcoming fiscal fight, Hunter is planning to introduce legislation next week to guarantee the pay for troops and civilian workers in war zones should there be a lapse in appropriations for any reason.

Issa, R-Vista, said the president and Senate Democrats are to blame for mounting debts and renewed fight on the debt ceiling.

“The country is now going into the fourth consecutive year that Senate Democrats have refused to pass any budget plan,” said Issa, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. “President Obama has a responsibility to address the uncontrolled spending that piles up on his watch as his political party in the Senate refuses to accept any constraints.”

Two of the three San Diego Democrats who complete the county’s delegation, the newly elected Juan Vargas and long-time lawmaker Susan Davis stood by Obama.

“The consequences of economic brinkmanship and default are far greater than any benefits from a negotiated deal,” said Davis.

She added that bill-paying talks should have come before appropriations leading to the need to raise the debt ceiling.

Vargas said he believes the president is on firm ground.

“You can’t play around with the full faith and credit of the United States,” he said. “We need it to operate the government.”

Vargas also said he worries about the consequences of another Washington stand-off on the debt ceiling.

“I don’t think the Republicans understand what they are doing — they’re messing around with something that could cause economic calamity in the country.”